give someone the brush把某人打发了

把一个人的分量夸成整座片厂的地基，狂妄里带着被时代抛下的酸楚。

Without me, there wouldn't be ...

强调自己不可替代时用；朋友间能壮声势，对同事说就成了抢功。

Without us, none of this exists. ／ Take me out and the whole thing collapses.

口语

两个 without me 都重读，绝对口气别断。

Without me, there wouldn't be a single client left. 没有我，一个客户都不会剩下。

先替对方的年纪扶额，再顺手自嘲，既圆场又拉近。

I hate to think where that puts me.

被人拿年龄打趣时自嘲用；对不熟的人说容易像在暗示对方老。

I don't want to do the math on that. ／ That makes me the old one here.

口语

hate to think 连读，puts me 轻带，father 落下重音。

If she's forty, I hate to think where that puts me. 要是她才四十，我真不敢想我算多大。

用影迷的数量替自己开脱，反问里全是此行的刻薄和心虚。

..., have given her the brush. Isn't that enough?

替自己找理由、把难题推给别人时用；当面这样说很伤人。

The whole city has moved on. Isn't that answer enough? ／ Everyone else said no. Must I say it too?

口语

Thirty million 重读，Isn't that enough 尾音上扬反问。

Ten agents have given him the brush. Isn't that enough? 十个经纪人都把他挡回去了，这还不够吗？

把捧杀说成一场慢性事故，冷静一句胜过整段同情。

... can do terrible things to the human spirit.

感慨名声或吹捧的副作用时用；在轻松闲聊里说会显得太重。

Too much praise can ruin a person. ／ Constant flattery does real damage.

literary

working overtime 连读，terrible things 放慢，spirit 收低。

A year of headlines can do terrible things to the human spirit. 一年的头条能把一个人的心气儿毁掉。

三句短话把界限划清又送了祝福，退让里有真心也有自知。

It's your ... It's your ... Good luck.

把项目交给别人、自己抽身时用；若还想参与就别说这句。

It's your call, your project. All the best. ／ Your script, your call. Go get them.

中性

两个 It's your 平读，Good luck 干脆收尾。

It's your campaign. It's your call. Good luck. 这是你的项目，你说了算。祝顺利。

回忆里先放一个礼貌的小动作，再抖出跳舞的狂放，反差就是她。

I remember ... I was ...

讲一段活灵活现的旧事时用；面试自我介绍别用这种逞能的调子。

I still picture you there. I was on a table, of all places. ／ I waved to you while dancing on a table.

口语

I remember 轻起，dancing on a table 每个词都清楚落下。

I remember chasing the bus. I was wearing slippers. 我记得追那趟公交来着。我当时还穿着拖鞋。